After two years of waiting, the 31st edition of the World University Summer Games will begin. Scheduled for 2021, the competition also had to be postponed due to the covid-19 pandemic. The event – previously called Universiade – has approximately 10 thousand athletes, from 150 countries in 18 sports, in the city of Chengdu (China). The opening ceremony is next Friday (28), but on the eve there will already be a dispute in Archery and Water Polo. The Brazilian Confederation of University Sports (CBDU) invited EBC to participate in the coverage, as a member of the delegation (athletes and technical team). We will be with Team UBrasil for 17 days of competitions, accompanying more than 150 athletes in 11 sports: diving, badminton, table tennis, taekwondo, kung fu (the martial art is called wushu in China), basketball, swimming, athletics, judo, tennis and volleyball. Discover the wonders of your incredible journey and take home delightful memory and gifts!🎁🎁We eagerly await every moment of joy you experience during your stay in Chengdu. Don’t keep those memorable moments to yourself—share them with us by tagging Chengdu 2021 FISU World… pic.twitter.com/84G3nHyxmQ — Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games (@Chengdu2021) July 24, 2023 Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan Province, located in southwest China and more than 1,800 kilometers away from the capital Beijing. From Guarulhos International Airport, the gateway to Chengdu, it’s more than a 20-hour flight, with a connection in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). But part of the delegation first needed to leave Rio de Janeiro to meet the rest of the group in São Paulo. In the departure hall of the Tom Jobim International Airport, we talked to four athletes. Thayná Lemos and Luana Costa (judo), Nívea Barros (taekwondo) and Maria Paula Heitmann (swimming). Thayná will compete in the under 52 kilos (-52 kg) category. Moments before getting on the plane, anxiety went hand in hand with happiness for representing the country. “My expectation is that I have a lot of fun, leave with a good result and meet new people. And it’s also always good to be in Brazil’s beautiful uniform”. Luana Costa, from the -63 kg category, boarded with “blood in her eyes”. “I want to be champion. I trained a lot, I really want to win, I’m very hungry, I’m very hungry and thirsty to knock everyone off the mat” Nívea Barros, who competes in the -49 kg category, makes her debut in such a big competition and wants to live every moment intensely. “It’s my first time at the World University Games. I’m very excited and following the other athletes who have already arrived in Chengdu on social media. I hope it’s all fantastic.” Maria Paula Heitmann has also accompanied the athletes who are in China. “I know it’s going to be a very big structure, I’ve already seen some pictures, I want to arrive to see everything”. The Rio-São Paulo flight was fast and we were soon at the hotel. It was time to remove the trousseau provided by CBDU, with suitcases and uniforms. Afterwards, have dinner and rest. The next day, early in the morning, everyone should get their visa at the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in São Paulo and, at dawn, and already in uniform, leave for Chengdu.
Agência Brasil
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